Russia's Venice Pavilion to Close to the Public in Compliance With Sanctions
Hyperallergic reported that Russia’s pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale will close to the public after the pre-opening vernissage, in an approach described as complying with international sanctions amid criticism and boycott calls. Italian outlets Open and La Repubblica published emails among Biennale Foundation president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, general director Andrea Del Mercato, and Russian Pavilion commissioner Anastasia Karneeva indicating the pavilion will be physically accessible only May 5–8, 2026, with performances for press and select guests as part of “The tree is rooted in the sky.” From May 9 onward, the building will remain closed, with documentation viewable on screens installed at the pavilion’s windows. The correspondence reportedly traces planning back to June 2025 and includes a November 2025 email about efforts to secure a visa for curator Petr Musoev. On April 27, the Biennale Foundation told Il Giornale it acted in “strict compliance” with national and international law and that “the sanctions were rigorously applied,” while noting the awards jury has said it will not consider countries whose leaders are charged with crimes against humanity by the ICC, effectively barring Russia and Israel from prizes.
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